1-10. (canceled)
11. A dynamic stabilization element for vertebrae which cooperates with at least two implantable connexion sets, each connection set comprising means for anchoring into a vertebra and being arranged to receive the dynamic stabilization element and means for clamping the dynamic stabilization element onto said anchoring means, the dynamic stabilization element comprising a rod extending along a longitudinal axis, a cable provided with an envelope made of an elastic material a fixing sheath comprising rigid zones spaced from each other surrounding the rod, and rings for damping a motion of the stabilization element, and the rings being composed of radial bulges of the envelope respectively placed between rigid zones adjacent to the fixing sheath.
12. A dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, wherein the rigid zones are spaced from one another by a distance smaller than a nominal length of a contact zone defined by the means for clamping with the dynamic stabilization element.
13. A dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, wherein the rigid zones consist of distinct rings.
14. A dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, wherein the fixing sheath consists of an helico\xefdal strip comprising turns extending about the rod along an axis substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said rod, and said turns forming the rigid zones of the fixing sheath.
15. A dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, wherein the rigid zones comprise at least one lumen for facilitating the fixing of the fixing sheath on the envelope.
16. A dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, wherein the rigid zones are equidistant from each other.
17. A dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, wherein the stabilization element comprises means for holding the fixing sheath on the rod, with the fixing sheath holding means being formed by the damping rings.
18. A dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, further comprising rigid tips fixed at each end of the cable.
19. A connection element comprising at least one dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1, with the dynamic stabilization element extending with at least one rigid rod.
20. A spinal fixing system comprising at least two implantable spinal connection sets, with both connection sets at least being connected by a dynamic stabilization element according to claim 1.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A caulking system comprising:
tape reel having a plurality of bosses formed on one end surface thereof;
a metal plate having a plurality of boss holes formed therein, wherein each of the plurality of bosses are formed to be inserted into a respective one of the plurality of boss holes; and
a caulking device operative to caulk the plurality of bosses onto the metal plate to fix the metal plate to the one end surface of the tape reel,
the caulking device comprising:
a part installing portion on which the tape reel is installed in a state where the plurality of boss holes of the metal plate are engaged with the plurality of bosses;
a welded horn for melting the plurality of bosses of the tape reel installed on the part installing portion;
an ultrasonic oscillation portion for vibrating the welded horn;
a driving portion for bringing the welded horn into contact with the plurality of bosses and for separating the welded horn from the plurality of bosses; and
a controlling portion for controlling the ultrasonic oscillation portion and the driving portion,
wherein the plurality of bosses project from the plurality of boss holes when the plurality of bosses are inserted in the plurality of boss holes;
the part installing portion can install the tape reel and the metal plate in an optional direction in the axial surrounding direction of the tape reel;
the front end surface of the welded horn is formed in a flat state; and
the plane shape of the front end surface of the welded horn is formed in a shape capable of being brought into contact with all of the plurality of bosses of the tape reel installed on the part installing portion,
wherein each of the plurality of bosses are formed so that a volume of each respective boss is larger than a capacity of a corresponding boss hole.
2. The caulking system according to claim 1, wherein the caulking device further comprises a reactive force detecting portion for detecting a reactive force that the welded horn receives from the plurality of bosses at the time of melting the plurality of bosses, wherein the controlling portion controls the ultrasonic oscillation portion or the driving portion based on a signal from the reactive force detecting portion to stop the caulking operation.
3. The caulking system according to claim 1, wherein each respective boss is set to the increased value of 5% to 15% of the capacity of each corresponding boss hole.
4. The caulking system according to claim 1, wherein a height of a portion running over an upper surface of the metal plate after caulking a respective boss is about 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm.
5. The caulking system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic oscillation portion is composed by an oscillation part for oscillating ultrasonic waves, and a vibrator vibrated by the ultrasonic waves, whereby the vibrator is connected to the welded horn, and can vibrate the welded horn at a prescribed number of vibrations.
6. The caulking system according to claim 5, wherein the front end surface of the welded horn is a circle shape or a doughnut shape.
7. The caulking system according to claim 1, wherein said tape reel comprises a hub and an upper flange unified or separately formed with each other.
8. The caulking system according to claim 1, wherein an upper opening part of each of the plurality of boss holes is formed in a tapered shape.